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' Apr. 10, 19.23,

Patented Apr.A l0, 1923.

UNM'

A 1,451,056 FICE.

WALTER R. SCHINDLER, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

IRRIGATION SIGNAL.

Application led June 1, 1921.

provide a simple, effective, reliable device of' this character.

On ranches, in orchards, etc., where itis necessary to irrigate, numerous conducts, usually in the form of trenches oriditches, are employed to carry the irr'igating water. These conducts are adapted to receive water at one or at. only a few points from which they distribute it over a large area. It is necessary for an vattendant to be in constant attention to be sure that the'water properly iiows to all of theconducts and to more or less regulatethe flow to the diiferent conducts. With the methods now employed one attendant can properly take care of only ya small area, as it is necessary for him to travel over the entire area in order to properly watch the flow of water in the various conducts.

lit is an object of the present invention to provide a device which will indicate the presence of water in a conduct and which may be used in connection with irrigation conducts to minimize the labor connected with irrigating and to thereby enable an attendant to properly take care of an area much larger than is possible by the present methods. Devices provided by the present invention can be arranged at various parts of the several conducts, so that the attendant can, by remaining at one point or-by very little movement, observe when the water reaches the various parts of the conducts.

The devices of the present invention, therefore, make it necessary for the attendant to actually inspect or visit the various conducts only when the water is not properly flowing in or to them.

A noteworthy feature of the device provided by the present invention is its extreme simplicity both of construction and operation. The device is formed of inexpensive easily obtained materials and is extremely seriai No. 474,288.

simple and compact in construction. The device is particularly simple to install or arrange in position for operation and embodies only a very few simple reliable operating parts. A

The various objects and features of the invention will be best and more tully understood from the following detailed description of a typical embodiment of the invention, throughout which reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a transverse detailed sectional view of a device embodying the present invention showing it in operating position in a typical irrigation ditch and showing it.

set so that it will actuate when the water lreaches the desired-level in the ditch; and

Iner shown in Fig. 1. The conducts used in irrigation systems, and the like, vary considerable in character, shape and proportion, but are usually open topped ditches similar, generally, to the ditch A, shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings for the purpose of typifying an irrigation conduct.l In view of the wide variationlin irrigation conducts,

it is -obvious that the present invention must be embodied in various forms in order to properly operate in various conducts. ln the present disclosure l have set forth a typical irrigation conduct and a typical form of the present invention adapted to operate insaid typical conduct. lt is to be understood, therefore, that the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific form of construction hereinafter set-forth, but that it is capable of embodiment in various forms tooperate in various forms of irrigation conducts.

'The device shown in the drawings as a typical embodiment of the present invention, comprises, generally, a frame part or 4standard 10, a signal 11, control means 12 for the signal 11, and actuating means 13 for the control means 12. The standard 10 is preferabl although not necessarily, a straight ho low member having a sharp lower end 15 adapted to be driven into the bottom of the ditch A. In practice I prefer to form the standard of a piece of straight pipe and to flatten its lower end portions 16 to form the sharp end and in order that it may -be easily driven into the ground. Flattening of the pipe in one direction spreads or broadens it in the other direction and therefore causes the extreme end portion to effectively anchor the standard in the ground.

In the preferred form of the invention a supporting plate or depth gauge 20 is arranged near the lower end of the standard l0 to regulate the amount that the standard can be driven into the ground and to brace the standard in avertical position, when in the ground. The gauge 20 may, in practice, be in the form of a flat annular or ring- .shaped plate 21 arranged around the standard l() at the desired height.

The plate 21 may be secured in place on the standard 10 in any suitable manner, for instance, it may be formed with a boss or collar 22, which slidably receives the standard 10 and which may be set at the desired position on the standard by suitable set screws 23. This particular manuel' of mounting the plate 21 on the standard permits of it being conveniently adjusted to the desired height. With the gauge 2O arranged on the standard 10, it Will be obvious how the lower end of the standard can only be driven a certain pre-determined distance into the ground'and how the standard isl effectively braced in a vertical position when the lower end of the standard is driven the predetermined distance into the ground.

v The plate21 of the gauge engages the bottom of the ditch A, and thereby positively limits the distance that the Standard can be conveniently driven, or otherwise suitably forced, into the ground. The plate 12 being fiat and of considerable area, in engaging the bottom of the ditch A effectively supports the standard in a vertical position and in -practice permits of the lower or ground en- I gaging end of the standard to be considerably shorter than would be otherwise necessary. The exact shape of the gauge 20 will, of course, depend upon the size and shape of the conduct in which the signal is to be arranged. Although the device of the present invention maybe successfully operated without a gauge 20, it is preferred that it beso equipped so that it can be conveniently arranged at a predetermined height and will be properly maintained in a vertical position.

In accordance with the invention a suitable foot piece is adjustably arranged on the standard 10 near its lower end, or at a point where it can be conveniently engaged by the foot to press the standard into the ground. The foot piece may be set at the desired height on the standard by a set screw 71. rI`he foot piece may, in practice be of the same form and construction as the gauge 20, as shown in thedrawings. The signal 11 comprises two parts 25 and 26, one of which is stationary while the other is movable to a position where it is opposite the stationary part, and to a position where it is not opposite the stationary part but extends from the stationary part in substantially the same plane as the stationary part. In the particular device illustrated in the drawings the part 25 is the stationary part and is detachably1 secured to the upper portion of the standard 10 by suitable screws 27. The part 26 is the movable part and is pivotally connected, or hinged, to the part 25 by suitable hinges 28 so that it can be swung to a position where it is substantially opposite and substantially coincides with the part 25, or to a position Where it extends from the part 24 in the plane of the part 25. The hinges 28 connect the part 26 with the lower edge of the part 25 so that the part 26 is opposite, or is at, the part 25 when in an up position, as shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2. and extends from the lower edge of part 25 in the same plane as the part 25 when in a down position such asis indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. .When the part 26 is up', or is opposite the part 25, as shown in full lines in Figs.1 and 2, a person viewing the device sees only the surface 29 of the part 26, or the surface 300iz the part 25. That is, when the part 26 is at the part 25, or is up, the device presents a signalling area equal only to the area of one of the signa-l parts. When the part 26 is down or extends from the lower edge 25, a person viewing the signal will see either the surfaces 29 and 30 of the parts 26 and 25, respectively, or the surfaces 31 and 32 of the parts 26 and 25, respectively. In other words, when the part 26 is down, or extends from the part 25, the device presents a signalling area equal to the combined areas of the two parts of the signal. In practice, of course, the signal parts 25 and 26 re made of such material, or the surfaces of t 1e signal parts 25 and 26 are coated, so that they are pa ticularly attractive and easily distinguishe at a distance. So far as the present invention is concerned, the surfaces of the parts 25 may be all the same, or they may be variously colored or marked to form different signals as well as being of different areas when in the two different positions. I prefer to rem'ovably mount the signal means 11, on the standard 10, say, for instance, by screws, as herein set forth, so that 'signal devices of various shapes, sizes and colors may be conveniently arranged on` the standard to meet various conditions under which the device may be operated.v It is sometimes necessary that the signal 11 be particularly large and con- IUD spicuous, while atother times it need only be comparatively small. Likewise, it is sometimes desirable that the signal 11 lbe of a certain color or of a certain combination of colors, in order to be visible against a certain background, while in other cases it is desirable that it be of another color or of another combination of colors. As far as the broader aspects of the present invention are concerned, it is immaterial how the signal is colored, how it is proportioned, or what size it is made. In fact, the signal may be of any suitable form or construction. In some cases it may be found convenient to make the surface 32 of the part 25 a signalling surface and to use the part 26 only as a cover for the part 25 to hideJ it from view -when the device is set or shown in the drawings and to uncover it4 and thus make it visible when the device is actuated.

The control means for the signal 11 comprises in its simplest form a single member having a rod part 3 5 arranged longitudinally of the standard 10, preferably within the standard 10, anda hook part 36 at the upper end of the body 35. Thehook part 36 extends through a suitable guide slot 37, in the standard l0 immediately above the signal 1l, and is shaped so that it will engage and hold the part 26 of the signal 11 in its up position as clearly shown in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings. The rod part '35 and hook part 36 are preferably formed of a single piece of material suficiently heavy only to have the necessary rigidity. When the rod 35 and hook 36 are in the down positions, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the hook 36 is in position to engage the outer edge of the signal part 26 to hold it in the up po-` sition. A predetermined amount of upward movement of the rod 35 and hook 36 from the down position when it is holding the signal part 26, will cause the hook part 36 to release the signal part 26, allowing it to fall by gravity to its down position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. It is preferred that a suitable washer or spacer 40 be provided under one of the screws 27 so that the signal part 26 cannot be swungupwardl to a truly vertical position, to a position w ere it is close against the signal part 25. The spacer 40 is preferably sufficiently large to hold the signal part 26 out so that it will unfailingly fall by gravity when released.

The actuating means provided for actuating the rod and hook to release the signal part 26 comprises a float positioned to be in the ditch A when the device is in operating position and connected with the rod 35 so that the rod will be lifted or moved upwardly when the water in the ditch A reaches a" predetermined level.v In the preferred form of the invention, the oat 50, is an annular, or ring-shaped member freely carried on or around the standard 10 immediately above the gauge 20.- It will be understood, of course, that the, ioat 50, may be of any suitable buoyant material, say for instance of wood or of cork, and that it may be of any desired shape, proportions, or configuration. When the float 50 is in theV form of a rin arranged around the standard 10, it may ge conveniently connected with the rod 3`5 a bar 52 arranged diametrically through it and the standard 10. The bar 52 passes through suitable guide slots 53 at opposite sides of the standard 1() in the manner clearly shown in Fig. l.' The connection between the rod 35 and the bar 52 may be effected bywrapping the lower end of the rod 35 around the bar 52 in the man' ner shown in the drawings. It will be obvious how water in theA ditch A will lift the ioat 50 upwardly, which in turuwill lift the rod 35 and hook 36 upwardly, and how the hook 36 will release the signal part 26 when the parts just mentioned have been lifted a predetermined amount upwardly or when the water in the ditch reaches a predetermined level.

In accordance with the invention the foot pieces and plate- 21 of the gauge 20 are Shaped and proportioned to extend beyond or outwardly of the float 50 in order to protect it during handling of the device and also during placement of the device in operative position.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious howdevices embodying the present invention may be very easily and conveniently arranged at suitable parts of irrigation conducts, how the signals 11 may be very easily set by swinging the parts 26 upwardly and arranging the hooks 36 in engagement with them and how the devices will automatically operate when there' isa predetermined amount of water in` the ditches at them, and thereby signal the attendant. It will be readily understood how the devices, properly arranged, will enable an attendant' to properly irrigate a much greater area at onetime than could possibly be done by Ordinary methods. Further, from the foregoing description, it will be obvious that the device of the present invention is extremely simple, both in construction and operation, and how it can be very easily and inexpensively constructed.

Havingdescribed only a typical embodi- .y

ard, areleasable hook for holding the signal in an unactuated condition, and a float adapted to'be actuated by fluid in the conduct to release the hook. i

2. In a device ofthe character described, a standard adapted to be arranged at a fluid conduct, a gravity actuated visual signal carried by the standard, releasable means for holding the signal in an unactuated condition, and float means for releasing said first mentioned means. I

3. In a device of the character described, a standard adapted to be arranged in a fluid conduct, a depth gauge on the. standard, a signal carried by the standard, and means carried by the standard, to actuatethe signal upon the fluid in the conduct reaching a predetermined level.

4. In a device of the character described,

a standard adapted to be arrangedat a fluid conduct, a visual signal carried by the standard, and means to actuate the signal only upon the fluid in the conduct reaching a predetermined level, said means embodying a float slidably carried on the standard in the conduct.

5. In a device of the ycharacter described, a standard adapted to be arranged in a fluid conduct, an adjustable gauge on the standard, a signal carried by the standard, and means carried by the standard, to actuate the signal upon the fluid in the conduct reaching a predetermined level. y

6. In a device of the character described, a standard adapted to be arranged at a fluid conduct, a member mounted on the standard to engage the bottom of the conduct to brace the standard, a signal carried by the standard, and means to actuate the signal upon the fluid in the conduct reaching a predetermined level.

7. In a device of the character described, a standard adapted to be arranged at a fluid conduct, a foot piece mounted on the standarda signal carried bythe standard, and float means to actuate the signal. 8. In a device of the character described, a standard adapted to be arranged in a fluid conduct, a signal carried by the standard, means to actuate the signal, said means comprising a float carried by the standard in the conduct, and a gauge member mounted on the standard forming a -protection for the float. Y

9. In a device of the character described, a standard adapted to -be arranged in a fluid conduct, a' signal carried by the standard, means to actuate the signal comprising a float carried by the standard in the conduct,

a foot piece mounted on the standard aboveA the float, and a augemember mounted on the standard an below the float, the foot piece and the gauge extending beyond the float to protect it.

10. In a dev1ce of the character described,

'the signal part in the up a standard adapted to be arranged at a fluid conduct, a signal carried b the standard, the signal embodying a stationary part and a movable part adapted to be actuated to form an extension of the stationary part,

and means to actuate the movable part of the si nal.

11. n a device of the character described, a standard adapted to be arranged at a fluid conduct, a signal carried by the standard, the signal embodying a stationary part and a movable part pivotally connected to the stationary part and adapted to be set in a position, where it is at the stationary part and to be actuated to a position where it extends from the stationary part, and float means to actuate the movable part of the signal.

12. In a device of the character described, a standard adapted to. be arranged at a fluid conduct, a signal carried by the standard, the signal embodying a stationary part and a movable part pivotally connected to the stationary part and adapted to be set 4in a position where it is at the stationary part and to be actuated by gravity to a position where it extends from the stationary part, and float control means for the movable part of the signal.

13. In a device of the character described, a standard adapted to be arranged at a' fluid conduct, a signal carried by the standard, the signal comprising a stat1onary part carried in a -vertical osition by the standard, a movable part p1votally connected to the lower edge of the stationary part adapted to be set in a substantially vertical position at the stationary part and to be actuated by gravity to a vertical position extending from the lower edge of the stationary part, and means to positively prevent the movable part being moved to a truly vertical position at the stationary part, and float means -for releasing the movable part of the signal from its set position.

14:. In a device of the character described,

a hollow standard adapted to have its lower end arranged in a fluid conduct, a signal v mounted on the upper portion of the standard, the signal embodying a part adapted to be set 'in a position where it extends upwardly substantially vertically and to be actuated therefrom by avity to a position where it extends ownwardly vertically, means to positively prevent the signal part being set in a truly vertical up position, a member extending through the standard, a hook on said member adapted to hold osition, a oat arranged around the standard in the conduct and4 connected with said member to actuate said member so that the hook releases the signal member when the Huid in below the float, and a foot piece mounted on n witness that I .claim the fore oing I the -standard above the Hoat. have hereunto subscribed my name tis 19th 15. Ix addevce of the character decrbed, day of May, 1921. a stan ar a apted to be arran in a 5 'luid conduct, a depth gauge on t stand- WALTER R' SCHINDLER' ard, a signal carried by the Standard, and Witness: a oat for actuating the signal. VIRGINIA BERINGER. 

